Dhoni the heartbeat of CSK, says Stephen
His longevity has to be mentioned and appreciated... to play 200 games and still have a desire to do well is a testament to his attitude towards the game and franchise
Mumbai, April 17: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has called skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni the team’s heartbeat and said the desire to do well even after playing 200 matches is a testament to his attitude towards the game and the franchise. Dhoni has been leading the side since the inaugural edition of the league in 2008.
“His longevity has to be mentioned and appreciated... to play 200 games and still have a desire to do well is a testament to his attitude towards the game and franchise,” Fleming said after CSK beat Punjab Kings by six wickets win in the ongoing IPL here on Friday.
“I think the franchise has grown and MS has grown with it, so it is a great relationship and great fun,” the former New Zealand skipper added.
Terming Dhoni the heartbeat of CSK, Fleming said, “He is the heartbeat of CSK, there's no doubt about it. Whether it’s performance,
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STEPHEN FLEMING CSK coach
guidance or leadership, you run out of things to say about him.”
He said the manner in which the team bounced back after the first game was impressive and praised Man of the Match Deepak Chahar for his efforts (4/13).
“Really impressed with the way he bounced back after the first game. Without doubt, when Deepak gets a little bit of swing and a little bit of movement, he is one of the finest around. His ability to swing the ball is one. But his control and skill set is also very high.”